Megan

2nd Class:

Орден Нахимова Instituted: 3 March 1944 as an award of the USSR, confirmed in the current order of precedence in 1992. Awarded: For the successful planning of a naval operation that inflicts a considerable defeat or losses on an enemy, in 2 classes. 1st Class:

The insignia is virtually identical to the original Soviet version: the only change is that the small shield at the base is now blank instead of bearing a hammer & sickle device. Here's the USSR version for comparison purposes:

Орден Александра Невского Instituted: 29 July 1942 as an award of the USSR, confirmed in the current order of precedence in 1992. Awarded: For personal bravery and successful command in action.

Here's the 2nd Class badge:

3rd Class:

2nd Class:

Орден Кутузова Instituted: 29 July 1942 as an award of the USSR, confirmed in the current order of precedence on 20 March 1992. Awarded: For successful planning of a military operation that inflicts a considerable defeat or losses on an enemy, in 3 classes. 1st Class:

Haven't been to Crete yet, but will let you know when - buy you a beer & talk medals. Thank you for your generous offer, I'll add your images to the archive & put them in (attributed of course) in time.

These are beautiful pieces, Emanuel, thank you for sharing them. Where do you live in Greece? I think it's a beautiful country and have designs on retiring there... I'm learning to speak Greek already!

Once in my previous college - which did a lot of adult education - I noticed an older lady wearing a 1914-20 British War Medal (no ribbon) on a chain round her neck. I asked her about it and she told me that it was her father's - he'd had 3 daughters and each had one of his 'Pip, Squeak and Wilfred' to wear in his memory. Part of me squealed at breaking up a family group, but the rest of me applauded the way in which the girls had chosen to keep his memory alive.

I recall at a service for the 'Old Contemptibles' people - indeed mostly veterans - asked why I was NOT wearing my grandfather's medals, which I was carrying. My response was that I hadn't earned them, & prefered to honour my grandfather by my presence, not by wearing HIS gongs! (1914 Star + bar, 1914-20 War Medal, Victory Medal and Meritorious Service Medal, for the curious; he served in Royal Engineers Postal & Courier Service as a storeman, his civilian job being a storeman for the General Post Office!)

The one depicted comes from La Gallerie Numismatique's catalogues (they have kindly given me free rein to use their pictures!) and went for ?500 at a sale held in November 2008.

Reverse: The text on the reverse reads "Great World War 1914-1917"

Established 1929 by White Russians in exile, from the legend on the reverse it applied to service during the Great War. Obverse:

As you probably know, I collect images and information rather than actual things. So far the images of Malawi medals displayed have been shared with me by a generous soul called Emmaneul Halleux, who watches what I'm up to on the website and invariably comes up with some pictures for me!

It's something that concerns me - if it LOOKS like a medal, it needs to recorded correctly so that future observers know what they are looking at. I have a (much-neglected) section on my site for such items, suppose I'd better set up a section for organisational awards as well - many of these are nationally-based (the French & the Belgiums seem particularly fond of 'em) so these may be best placed as clearly-demarked subsections of national sections.

Reverse:

Silver Jubilee of President Banda Medal 1991 Instituted: 1991. Awarded: To mark the 25th anniversary of Banda's self-appointment as Life President. Obverse:

Here's the Soviet version for comparison purposes:

Орден Ушакова Instituted: 3 March 1944 as an award of the USSR, confirmed in the current order of precedence on 20 March 1992. Awarded: To naval commanders for outstanding merit, in 2 classes plus a medal. The insignia is virtually the same as the USSR version, except the hammer & sickle has been removed. 1st Class:

Reverse:

Republic Medal 1966 Instituted 1966 to mark the establishment of the Republic of Malawi.

Reverse:

Nacala Campaign Medal 1988-93 Obverse: